Expands Guidelines for Infant Sleep Safety and SIDS risk Reduction 

Since the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended all babies should be placed on their backs to sleep in 1992, deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome have declined dramatically. But sleeprelated deaths from other causes, including suffocation, entrapment and asphyxia, have increased.

In an updated policy statement and technical report, the AAP is expanding its guidelines on safe sleep for babies, with additional information for parents on creating a safe environment for their babies to sleep.

“We have tried to make it easier for parents and providers to understand the recommendations by providing specific answers to common questions,” said Rachel Moon, MD, FAAP, chair of the AAP SIDS task force and lead author of the new guidelines. “As a health care community, we need to do a better job translating what the research identifies as ‘best practices’ into the day-to-day practice of caring for infants in both the hospital and home environment.”

The policy statement, “SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Expansion of Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment,” and an accompanying technical report, will be released Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition in Boston and published in the November 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published online Oct. 18).

Dr Moon will discuss the new recommendations during an embargoed news briefing for reporters at 11 a.m. ET Monday, Oct. 17, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. During the news briefing, a crib with objects such as crib bumpers, baby blankets, pillows and toys will be set up for Dr. Moon to demonstrate safe vs. unsafe sleep practices.

The policy statement and technical report provide global recommendations for education and safety related to SIDS risk reduction. In addition, the AAP is providing recommendations on a safe sleeping environment that can reduce the risk of all sleep-related infant deaths, including SIDS.

Three important additions to the recommendations include:

♥ Breastfeeding is recommended and is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS.

♥Infants should be immunized. Evidence suggests that immunization reduces the risk of SIDS by 50 percent.

♥Bumper pads should not be used in cribs. There is no evidence that bumper pads prevent injuries, and there is a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation or entrapment.

“It is important for health care professionals, staff in newborn nurseries and neonatal intensive care units, and child care providers to endorse the recommended ways to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths, starting at birth,” Dr. Moon said. “There needs to be more education for health care providers and trainees on how to prevent suffocation deaths and to reduce SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths – our goal is to ultimately eliminate these deaths completely.”

The report also includes the following recommendations:

♥ Always place your baby on his or her back for every sleep time.

♥ Always use a firm sleep surface. Car seats and other sitting devices are not recommended for routine sleep.

♥The baby should sleep in the same room as the parents, but not in the same bed (room-sharing without bed-sharing).

♥Keep soft objects or loose bedding out of the crib. This includes pillows, blankets, and bumper pads.

♥Wedges and positioners should not be used.

♥Pregnant woman should receive regular prenatal care.

♥Don’t smoke during pregnancy or after birth.

♥Breastfeeding is recommended.

♥Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime.

♥ Avoid covering the infant’s head or overheating.

♥ Do not use home monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS.

♥Infants should receive all recommended vaccinations.

♥Supervised, awake tummy time is recommended daily to facilitate development and minimize the occurrence of positional plagiocephaly (flat heads).

For more information, visit http://www.aap.org/pressroom/sids.pdf.

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Click here to read the SAFETY ALERT on how Crib Bumper Pads Pose a Suffocation,
Strangulation & Choking Hazard for Babies.

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The National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Project IMPACT supports state and local infant and child death programs through sharing information, promoting policy and legislative changes, building upon resources, and fostering partnerships and communication.

For additional information on bumper pads, please visit the Project Impact Listserv archive at:

http://www.suid-im-projectimpact.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=41

See the August 2009 section for “Crib Bumpers.”

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ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL MADIGAN URGES PARENTS TO IMMEDIATELY STOP USE OF CRIB BUMPERS

Madigan Alerts Families to the Potential for Suffocation or Strangulation from Bumper Pads

Chicago — Attorney General Lisa Madigan today issued an alert to Illinois parents, grandparents and other caregivers of infants urging them to remove bumper pads used along the sides of cribs. Madigan said immediate action is necessary in light of the number of infant deaths and injuries attributed to bumper pads.

The Attorney General is alerting caregivers of this danger to prevent infant deaths. Babies may suffocate or be strangled if they roll against a crib bumper, press their face against the bumper, wedge their head between the pad and the mattress or crib side, or if their neck gets wrapped by the tie that secures the bumper to the crib.

“We know that children have tragically died in their cribs because of these bumper pads,” Attorney General Madigan said. “Parents and caregivers should remove these bumpers to prevent tragedy.”

Since 2008, the National Center for Child Death Review has received reports of 14 infants who have died from suffocation caused by crib bumpers. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American SIDS Institute and the Canadian Health Department have all urged parents not to use crib bumpers.

Attorney General Madigan partnered with the American Academy of Pediatrics, Kids in Danger, the American SIDS Institute, SIDS of Illinois and the Canadian Health Department to alert caregivers of the danger crib bumpers pose.

Madigan also sent a letter to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association demanding the group release results from its study into the dangers of crib bumper pads. A study commissioned by JPMA to investigate these dangers has yet to be published while the group internally reviews the report. Madigan urged the association to release the study immediately, so the proper authorities can take any necessary steps to prevent further harm.

“The JPMA needs to release results of its study and implement effective measures to remove these bumpers from the marketplace,” Madigan said. “Manufacturers and distributors of these pads must take responsibility for the dangers posed by these products. We must work together to educate parents and caregivers and ensure cribs across Illinois and nationwide are safe for babies.”

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association is a national trade organization that represents companies across the country that manufacture, import and distribute infant products like cribs, car seats and strollers.

In addition to today’s alert on the dangers of crib bumpers, Attorney General Madigan urged parents and caregivers to take the time to review her Rest Assured guide to be sure they have no other dangerous children’s items in their homes. The Rest Assured guide provides information to consumers about recalls of cribs or other sleep-related items for children from 2007 to date. To obtain a copy of guide, call the Attorney General’s Product Recall Hotline at 1-888-414-7678 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013), or visit her website, www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov.